Why does splitting an atom create energy? And why is it so much energy?
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Particles which makes an atom have small range strong force that binds them together, and longer range weaker repelling force. So, this makes two ways to make energy of atom: 1).You either take an atom big to the point of small range force not spreading enough, you bombard it with neutrons and it splits, releasing more high velocity neutrons and recombining into more stable smaller atom, this leads to chain reaction with stable heat output or explosion(nuclear reactors and fission nuclear bombs). 2). You take small atoms containing extra neutron, heat them to the point of them crashing into each other so violently, that they break through the weak long range repelling force and get glued together by strong low range force. This creates tremendous (even compared to fore mentioned fission reaction) amount of energy, but the tricky part is getting to that temperature. It is achieved through separate fission reaction in thermonuclear bombs(like in tsar-bomb), high gravity fields(like inside stars), and fusion reactors for stable output are still being theoritised. Hopefully we can harness thermonuclear energy in safe way before the turn of the next century.
But if you are just curious, where that energy comes from, then the answer is mass. Standalone parts of atoms weight more than combined atom. Not by much, but since E=mc2, even miniscule amount of mass holds incredible amounts of energy.
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